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It is testament to the confidence and
self-belief of the organisers that so many local bands are given the
opportunity to rub shoulders with the established and the mighty here at
Abertillery. This is no token nod to the sponsors. It is a genuine
platform for celebrating Blues music at all levels of experience and
accomplishment.
Having compered the event each year since its
birth in 2005, I feel qualified to offer a view and believe that keeping
the festival so strongly rooted within its local community can only give
it the most solid of foundations. Of the fifteen acts performing across
the three nights, no less than six were Welsh (yet another was a
Welsh/Scottish collaboration).
 The first night's entertainment was held in the
town centre's newly-refurbished Metropole Theatre. Festival openers were
locals the Kendall James Band.
Formed less than a year ago (inspired, in fact, by last year's
festival), they gave a performance which grew in confidence as their set
progressed and they set the mood for the weekend.
Blue Traffic
- three youngsters from the Rhondda - followed to an enthusiastic
reception. No doubt the plaudits are generally directed at vocalist/lead
guitarist, Dave Williams; a flamboyant, high energy, extrovert performer
who is already a master of the instrument. But credit belongs to the
full ensemble. Wayne Jones on vocals/bass and Meirion Sampson at the
drums provided a solid backdrop from which Dave could work.
This band oozes quality and I would like to see
them presenting some self-penned work to complement their covers.
(Having said that, they started their set with their take on Blind
Willie McTell's Statesboro Blues - a particular favourite of mine!)
Then came veterans
Jim Diamond and Snake Davies
who overcame a brief, early technical problem with a considered set of
standards (several self-written). Jim's vocal range is no respecter of
octaves - he has several - and Snake offered a superb counterpoint using
a seemingly endless collection of saxophones and flutes.
J44,
led by 23 year old Ayisha on keyboards and powerful vocals, offered a
mellow, thoughtful set. The audience were clearly impressed and, with
growing experience, they will clearly become a force.
Closing the first night was Swansea-based
Crosscut Saw.
Veterans of the valleys clubs, they knew exactly how to get the feet
moving and soon had the audience dancing along to a competently played
spectrum of Blues standards from Every Day I Have The Blues to Sweet
Home Chicago. So, the first night finished with a satisfied crowd. Very
satisfied.
Friday night, the event moved to the marquee,
reached by padding gingerly across the rugby field - sodden flatlands
surrounded by steep hills. It seemed quite suited to swamp blues and the
stream racing alongside made one fearful of Backwater Blues or, worse
perhaps, When The Levee Breaks!
Swansea's
The Revelators
set of (mainly) Delta Blues was given authenticity by torrential rain
hitting the marquee roof - the sound mix becoming reminiscent of a
well-used 78 record. Mainstay Gordon 'Billy G Slim' Wride was joined by
new recruit Simon Gregory.
The Animals
followed by The Yardbirds
did what was expected, sampling their copious back-catalogues and
proving to the appreciative audience that they have lost nothing in
performance quality over the decades. Recent appointee to The Yardbirds
is Ben King, a young guitarist surely with an enormous future. Also
worthy of singling out is bassist/vocalist John Idan who somehow
embodies the spirit of the group's youthful enthusiasm of the 1960s.
The Blues Band
proved to be the ideal final performers of Friday night. Again, they did
what they do well; very well. And their set concluded with an audience
participation session - always guaranteed to send a crowd home happy.
Saturday dawned bright and cloudless. Could
this be the Summer we'd all been waiting for?
Stone Fox - led by vocalist Jimmy Reed (how could he
ever sing anything but the Blues?) this band from the Blaenau Gwent area
impressed. Having to open at the dead time of 3pm is a challenge for
anyone and when the sun beat down in total contrast to the previous day,
lots of the early arrivals were taking advantage of the opportunity to
drink in the sun outside the marquee.
Nevertheless, the band worked well and one can
only imagine how their performance might benefit from an evening slot.
Their bass player's dedication to the cause demands particular mention.
Two days before this performance he was run over by a people carrier.
Despite having his nose broken and other painful injuries, his first
concern was that he might be unable to play!
Glaswegian
Dave Arcari defies description - he confidently plays a
'punk-delta' fusion delivered with ATTITUDE! His stage presence is
remarkable, yet personified the best in Blues. I frequently argue that
the Blues is not doom, gloom and my dawg died. Blues is a celebration of
Life itself, of adversity vanquished, of enjoying every experience.
Looking at the bemused audience during Dave's set and seeing the
enormous smiles validated the experience. I can't wait to see him again!
Paul Lamb & The Kingsnakes
(pictured above) were their usual entertaining, crowd-lifting selves.
There has been one change in the line-up since I last saw them some
months ago. Paul Lamb's son Ryan, who occasionally guested for a few
numbers, has now joined the band full-time on guitar replacing Raul de
Pedro Marinero. Just 21, Ryan is already a very able guitarist and his
cutting guitar style has added a different dimension to the overall
sound. Rod Demick on double-bass made his first appearance of the
festival here. Watch this space!
Headliner
John Hammond proved to be a natural raconteur. With
forty plus years spent playing Blues with a succession of legendary
names, he amazed me by confessing that he had been using his personal
anecdotes as an integral element of his show for just a few short years.
His music is streamlined, authoritative and unfettered by gizmos. A
guitar, a selection of harps and his magnificent vocals captured the
attention of the spellbound audience.
The Michael Roach Band
offered us a mellow-vocalled passage from the acoustic set of John
Hammond to the full-on finale. This is a band of many parts and styles;
every one as well-delivered as the others. It was great to see an old
friend, Roger Innis, on six-string bass. He plays exclusively with very
competent musicians. This band is no exception to Roger's yardstick - a
quality act presented by professionals.
By now, there was an end-of-term atmosphere in
the marquee. Doubtless, a fair amount of alcohol had been consumed -
supplied by sponsors Rhymney Brewery - but the atmosphere was more of a
contented expectation of the climax...
And then
Taste took the stage. And then they took the event. Led
by John Wilson who took the role of drummer in 1968, they played a
breathtaking range of songs from the Rory Gallagher & Taste repertoire.
Sam Davidson on guitar squeezed every edge of feedback from his
amplifiers. And then some.
This was a great choice of band to finish the
Abertillery Festival. We were even treated to a spontaneous guest vocal
appearance from the afore-mentioned Rod Demick. (Remember I said to
watch this space)? An old teenage friend of John Wilson he was invited
to join the band for a rendition of Van Morrison's Gloria. They jammed
in style with Rod every inch the frontman for once. And all in the
spirit of a superb event.
The Abertillery Blues Festival is becoming a
must-visit in many an enthusiast's diary and we all eagerly anticipate
the next. If it proves as slick and as varied as this year's offering,
it must grow and grow. Deservedly so.
Review
Bob
William (GTFM) |
